Festival of Arts in Shushi, Karabagh

Setting the stage for cultural and economic growth

In 2001, COAF sponsored the Festival of Arts in Shushi, a project that became the flagship of COAF’s activities and set the stage for Karabagh’s cultural and economic growth. COAF’s support enabled the Festival of Arts to draw a large audience and made it possible for creative and performing artists to reach out beyond the borders of Karabagh and Armenia and put the region on the cultural map of the world.

The inaugural festival of Arts took place in 2001 at the Old Fortress in Shushi, a 200-year-old historical landmark. It was conceived and organized with the aim to help bring tourism and economic activity to the community and assist the local authorities in bringing to life the Old Fortress and its grounds. The festival was a real success in terms of the united spirit it brought to the participants of the event, whose range varied from Karabagh to the old Armenian town of Gyumri. The event also attracted visitors from Armenia and the Caucasus.